October 13, 2015 — Austin, TX — ATX Television Festival announces its first wave of panels and programming for the upcoming fifth season of the festival, along with this year’s ATX Award recipient, television icon Norman Lear. This year’s festival will feature a special “Everybody Loves Raymond” 20-year reunion; “The Shield” writers room reunion with creator Shawn Ryan and the show’s writers; a script reading of the never-picked-up pilot “Big” with creators Kevin Biegel and Mike Royce, and featuring surprise cast; and panelists Betsy Beers, Hart Hanson and Krista Vernoff. ATX will be back for a fifth year June 9-12, 2016, in Austin, TX.

“We’re humbled and honored to have the legendary Norman Lear accept our Achievement in Television eXcellence Award, which was created with the intention of acknowledging those who have dedicated their lives to television – participating in its history as well as its future – and there is no one better suited to receive that honor than Mr. Lear,” said Caitlin McFarland and Emily Gipson, Co-Executive Directors and Founders, ATX Television Festival. “We’re also thrilled to begin announcing our programming for season five, as we strive to continue balancing our reunions, niche series, current shows and new series premieres, as well as some of the biggest hits from network, cable and streaming platforms.”

ATX Award recipient Norman Lear has produced such iconic series as “All in the Family,” “Maude,” “Sanford and Son,” “Good Times,” “The Jeffersons” and “One Day at a Time,” among many other programs that have shaped this country’s rich television history. Along with the presentation of the award, ATX will host an intimate conversation with Mr. Lear, and feature a retrospective of his programming throughout the weekend with various special guests. Mr. Lear joins Henry Winkler and James L. Brooks, who have received the ATX Award the past two years it’s been given.

“Everybody Loves Raymond’s” 20-year reunion panel will feature creator Phil Rosenthal, along with cast members Patricia Heaton, Doris Roberts and Monica Horan, and writers Mike Royce, Lew Schneider, Steve Skrovan, Jeremy Stevens and Aaron Shure, who will reunite to discuss the evolution of this iconic family sitcom. Additional participants will be announced at a later time.

Last year, ATX hosted its first writers room reunion with “Dawson’s Creek,” and based on its overwhelming success, is expanding on that programming track with a writers room reunion of FX’s breakout drama “The Shield,” featuring an in-depth conversation with creator Shawn Ryan, along with writers Glen Mazzara, Scott Rosenbaum and Sarah Fain. Along with discussing the creation and influence of the series, they will also touch on the places the show has taken its elite group of writers. Additional participants will be announced at a later date.

In addition, Shawn Ryan will join creator Ted Griffin and cast member Michael Raymond-James for a spotlight screening of the former FX series “Terriers.” Featured as part of the festival’s cancelled-too-soon track of programming, the screening will be followed by a Q&A with the show’s cast and creatives.

Also following the success of last year’s first-ever script reading of the “Dawson’s Creek” pilot, this year’s festival will also include a script reading of the never-picked-up pilot “Big,” with creators Kevin Biegel and Mike Royce, who will be joined by surprise cast.

Betsy Beers, partner at Shondaland, who also serves as executive producer of “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Scandal,” “How to Get Away with Murder,” and the upcoming midseason drama “The Catch,” will be a panelist at this year’s festival, and participate in conversations about her wide-spanning career and role as a non-writing executive producer.

Hart Hanson will join the festival as a panelist in a variety of sessions as well, discussing his long-running drama “Bones,” and wide range of other series, and Krista Vernoff (“Wonderfalls,” “Grey’s Anatomy”) will attend as a panelist, screening her never-picked-up pilots “Grace” and “Introducing Lennie Rose,” with special guest Abigail Spencer, who starred in both.

For the latest developments, tickets and badges visit the ATX Television Festival official site www.atxfestival.com and follow us on Facebook & Twitter.

For co-promotion, please link to @ATXFestival #ATXTVs5 on Twitter.

About the ATX Television FestivalOur focus is the celebration of the television medium – looking back at its history; where it is now; and where it is headed. Our weekend consists of events in which attendees can interact with creators, showrunners, writers, actors, directors, music supervisors, casting directors and studio executives involved in all stages of bringing their favorite series to the small screen. We feature classic shows, never-aired pilots, cancelled-too-soon series, cult favorites, current hits, and premieres of new series, through episode screenings and Q&A’s with the cast and creators, panels focused on industry related topics, and parties, live music, meet-ups, social media events and activations. ATX’s goal is to serve both the community and industry professionals equally, by giving them the opportunity to discuss and celebrate all aspects of television.